A little update first, and then my post. I'm behind.  I know it.  I have to draw for my blog contest, and I have to write a post. We've just had an extraordinarily busy weekend.  On Thursday, of last week, Todd's sweet, almost 102, grandmother died.  Stay tuned...I will be writing about her tomorrow for Wednesday's Walk.  It will be a wonderful entry as this woman was full of joy and lived a long and amazing life. I hope you check back tomorrow to share and remember with me.

My two girls finished their play this weekend.  They were wonderful.  When my camera gets batteries I will post some pictures.  And all worked out great.  Chloe called me, and I was able to encourage her.  And, finally, my little Elijah is sick.  He woke up ill on Thursday and has been sick ever since.  I did find out yesterday that he has a double ear infection.  The doctor was surprised that his right ear hadn't burst.  I am praying that his cough gets better.  I'm still a tad bit worried that he has pneumonia.  I'll keep watching him.

At grandma's funeral, on Sunday before the second performance of the play. the minister read from Ecclesiastes.  He read:

"For everything there is a season,

and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die:

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted:

a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

a time to gather stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

 a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

My, oh my, did the tears stream from my face while he read those words.  My heart ached for just one more sweet memory with Grandma, and yet, at the same time rejoiced for her freedom in heaven.  But more than that, those words compelled me to start pondering time.  Again. 

Sometimes I think it is too easy to super-impose a preconceived idea of time onto our days.  We hear about how we need to do so many things, how we are to accomplish this and that, how we are to exercise, volunteer, keep a perfect house, and so on.  And that idea of "super-woman" time sits over the reality of our time.  And the frustration of trying to cram 42 hours of activities into a 24 hour day leaves us, and for sure me, frustrated and frazzled.  That simply is not my time.  Right now, on this cold day in January, my time is to be home.  To be teaching my children, making a home for my husband, and when there are moments writing.  If I adopt  others' ideas of how I need to be spending my time, then the result could be a feeling of inadequacy.    And that feeling leads to feelings of failure.  And there is no time for that.

If you read further in the same chapter of Ecclesiastes it states:

"He has made everything beautiful in its time....

I perceived there is nothing better for them than to be joyful

and to do good as long as they live."

Ecclesiastes 3:11a and 12

To be joyful? Am I a mother, a wife, a woman with a spirit of joy when I fight the time that I am given?  You know, this time for me, probably won't be calm.  Oh, I will have moments of quietness, but not continuous calmness.  I have six children...three five and under.  And I love them dearly, but I also know that I will be busy.  There will be milk to clean up, tears to wipe, stories to read, diapers to change, disagreements to referee, toys to pick up, laundry, cleaning, cuddling, and on and on.  These times won't last forever.  They are fleeting.   At the dinner after grandma's funeral many of the elderly friends came up to me and told me to relish this time.  One sweet woman, with tears in her eyes, gently stated how it felt like yesterday when her children were young.  And now, for her, it has been 50 years.  Time moves on.  And on.

So my challenge is to embrace this time, this season.  Maybe I don't have the perfect home, or go on the best trips, or can work-out every morning.  But what I do have is now.  I have the moments of cuddling while I read "Winnie the Pooh."  I can be excited over the tower that my toddler builds.  I can listen when my twelve year old describes the latest email poll.  I can spend time building a snow fort out front.  I can be there for them and embrace this time.

Enjoy the time of today.  Maybe spend a few moments identifying the season that you are in right now.  Have you spent time trying to live in a different season?  Ask the Lord to fill your heart with contentment and joy for the current time and season.  I know I am.  I'm right there with you.

Blessings,